Top 10 Thai Food Dishes I

Thai cuisine is a favorite of gourmet food aficionados around the world. It is well known for diversity of ingredients, complex spiciness and intricate flavors and aromas. Many Thai dishes are even prepared with a blend of herbal ingredients that are purported to have health benefits.

There is such a broad range of favorite Thai food dishes available that many people will come to Thailand and wonder where to begin; and so, I have prepared this article to present a list of my Top 10 Favorite Thai Dishes.

An important (mostly unconscious) principal of Thai food is a balance of five flavors - spicy, salty, sweet, sour and bitter. The one indispensable ingredient which is used in seasoning many Thai dishes is fish sauce. Fish sauce is considered an essential ingredient in Thai cooking in much the same way as soy sauce is important to Chinese cooking. Thai food is easten either as a single diseg or with rice. Steamed rice is the staple food althought sticky rice is more popular in the north and northease of Thailand where special rice varienties are produced for their sticky starch qualities.

Thai food is one of many things that you should not miss while you are traveling in this beautiful " Land of Smiles". Since there are countless delectable Thai dishes, U am writing this guideline for you to selct the most popular and authentic from the plenthora of Thai signature dishes.

The following list is a top 10 favorite Thai food dishes that you must not miss. The consideration and ranking is based on the popularity, uniqueness and authenticity of these Thai delicacies. Here are the winners of my Top 10 Thai Food Dishes.

10. Gai Pad Met Mamuang (Stir-Fried Chicken with Cashew Nuts) Even through Gai Pad Met Mamuang does not represent the overview of Thai food but it is a very nice treat to your taste buds. Since it is by no means spicy or hot, this slightly sweet and salty chicken fried with crunchy cashew nuts is aptly satiating for children of beginners who are not used to spices.

9. Por Pia Tord (Fried Spring Roll) Fried spring roll is one of the most popular appertizers for foreginers because it is not spicy and cornes with sweet and sour dip. Spring roll are crispy pastries with fried vegetable fillings. Though spring roll are commonplace in many Southease Asian countries, Thai Por Pia is different in flavors with a special dip prepared from Japanese apricot.

The Health Benefits of Chocolate : Can Chocolate Benefit Your Health ?

Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet-tasting treats in the world and has been for centuries. But part of the myth surrounding chocolate is that if it tastes so good, it must be bad for your health.

But the surprising news from the scientic community is that this reputedly decadent treat actually has some health benefits, especially if your choose chocalate wisely.

Is chocolate A Health Food ?

Chocolate contains more than 300 chemicals, and has been the subject of a number of studies by universities and other scientific organizations. Here's a quick rundown of the results (Note, we have no way of proving or disproving these claims so we offer them here as a stimulus for further research. If you're really interested in the subject, this may provide you with a starting point.)

- Cacao, the source of chocolate,contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.

- The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.

- Chocolate contains phenyl ethlylamine, a mild mood elevator.

- The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturateed fat which may riase good cholesterol.

-Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.

- Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't

-The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.

- Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.

- Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.

-The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

What Chocolate Won't Do

There are many myths and half-truths about the effects of chocolate on the human body. Here are the lastest findings on several of them.

-Studies show that chocolate is not a causative factor in acne.

- Cacao contains the stimulants caffeine and bromine, but in such small quantities that they don't cause nervous.

- Chocolate is not addictive.

-Chocolate contains stearic acid, a neutral fat which doesn't raise bad cholesterol.

-Chocolate doesn't make you high. You'd need to eat a huge quatity(about 25 pounds at one sitting) to feel any noticeable effect.

But On The Negative Side...

1. Chocolate may trigger headacheds in migraine sufferers
2.Milk chocolate is high in calories, saturated fat and sugar.

What about Chocolate and Your Pets ?

Chocolate is considered dangerous to animals because it contains a stimulant called theobromine, which they can't digest.

Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are even more dangerous bacause they contain higher concentration of the substance. This applies whether chocolate is in candy bar form or and ingredients in cake, cookies, puddings or ice cream.

If a pet becomes ill after eating chocolate, take it to the vet immediately.

Dark Chocolate Versus Milk Chocolate
Dark chocolate contains more cacao and less sugar than milk chocolate. It follows tht any health benefits would be more pronounced in dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate is allowed on the popular Montaignac diet while milk chocolate is not.

You'll need to do a little research if you have any health concerns about eating chocolate. But with products like gluten-free and sugar-free brand finging their wat onto supermarket shelves, you're sure to find some form of chocolate you can enjoy with a clear conscience

What Are the Benefits of Milk?

From the time we were children, we listened to our parents tell us of all the benefits of milk and as a result, we were expected to drink at least one glass per day.

As we became older, many of us shucked the idea of drinking milk either because we felt we were too "grown" to have to drink milk, or because we had become conscious of our figures and felt milk would have a detrimental effect on that part of us. In lieu of milk, we switched to other dairy products or vitamins in order to still receive the correct intake of Vitamin D and Calcium.

As we became older, many of us shucked the idea of drinking milk either because we felt we were too "grown" to have to drink milk, or because we had become conscious of our figures and felt milk would have a detrimental effect on that part of us. In lieu of milk, we switched to other dairy products or vitamins in order to still receive the correct intake of Vitamin D and Calcium.

Strangely, the analogy here is that if we went through that much trouble to still receive the benefits of milk, we knew that there was something in milk that our bodies were able to utilize. According to an article published on the Internet by the Newer Knowledge of Milk, there are several benefits of milk: the ability to prevent osteoporosis, hyper tension, and colon cancer. And most importantly, these benefits are derived from an intake of fluid milk, not simply vitamins or other sources.

Drinking milk also helps reduce the incidence of tooth decay. There is no evidence to support the theory that drinking chocolate milk aids in tooth decay, and as a result, allowing children to drink chocolate milk increases their consumption of milk. One of the major contributing factors to many people shucking the benefits of milk for a substitute source is the belief that drinking milk will cause them to gain weight. There is no evidence that drinking the required servings of dairy products such as milk contribute to a person being overweight.

Clearly lactose intolerant individuals need to supplement with a non-dairy product. But for everyone else, we should shy away from drinking milk. We did it when we were 5, and we can definitely do it when we are 80. The benefits of drinking milk stay the same!

Health Benefits of Spinach

Health Benefits of Spinach:
Spinach contains choline and inositol, the substances that help to prevent atherosclerosis or thickening and hardening of arteries.
Spinach and alfalfa help stabilize blood sugar among diabetics. Make a drink by getting several handful of spinach, add 3 cups of water. Place over low heat for one hour. Then strain. Take ½ cup twice a day. Spinach and alfalfa may be served as part of the meal.

Spinach is loaded with flavonoid that functions as antioxidant and anti-cancer agent.

Spinach contains carotenoid that help fights cancer.

Spinach is a rich source of Vitamins C and A

Spinach is an anti-aging vegetable.

Spinach is a good source of Vitamin K, which aids in the formation of the blood substance required for clotting of blood.

Spinach is also helpful in the following cases ; Anemia, Tumors, Constipation, Insomnia, Obesity, Neuritis (inflammation of nerves), Nerve exhaustion, High blood pressure, Bronchitis, Colon cancer, Prostate cancer, Breast cancer, Osteoporosis, Dyspepsia (chronic indigestion), Also helps ailment of the kidneys, bladder and liver.

Nutritive Values : Per 100 gm.
Vitamin A : 9,420 I.U.
Vitamin B : Thiamine .11 mg.;
Riboflavin : .20 mg.;
Niacin : .6 mg.
Vitamin C : 59 mg.
Good source of Vitamin k : amount undetermined.
Calcium : 81 mg
Iron : 3.0 mg.
Phosphorus : 55 mg.
Potassium : 470 mg.
Carbohydrates : 3.2 gm.
Protein : 2.3 gm.
Calories : 20

Benefits of soy milk

Benefits of Soy MilkAs the taste of commercial soy milk improves more and more people are drinking it as enjoyment. But many people drink soy milk for the added health benefits. So what are the benefits of drinking soy milk as compared to cow’s milk?

Benefit 1: Soy milk contains only vegetables proteins Vegetable proteins have the advantage that they cause less loss of calcium through the kidneys. It is known that a diet rich in animal (and dairy protein) creates a higher risk for osteoporosis.

Benefit 2: Soy milk contains no lactoseAbout 75 percent of the world population cannot tolerate lactose. Some ethnic groups are more affected than others. For example 75 percent of Africans and 90 percent of Asians have lactose intolerance. As an additional benefit, soy milk contains the prebiotic sugars stachyose and raffinose. These prebiotic sugars boost immunity and help decrease toxic substances in the body.

Benefit 3: Fewer people are allergic to soy milk Only 0.5 percent of the children are allergic to soy milk, whereas 2.5 percent is allergic to cow’s milk.

Benefit 4: Soy milk reduces cholesterol The saturated fats in cow’s milk are unhealthy and increase your cholesterol. The protein in cow’s milk has no benefits for the cholesterol. Soy protein can decrease cholesterol levels. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration of US) confirms that soy protein, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may significantly reduce the risk of coronary heart. The FDA recommends to incorporate 25 grams of soy protein in your daily meals.
Benefit 5: Soy milk contains no hormonesCow’s milk contains natural hormones (from the cow) but also synthetic hormones, which can influence the good working of our own body. The synthetic hormone rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone) increase milk production by as much as 20 percent.

Benefit 6: Soy milk does not cause insulin dependent diabetes Although no general consensus exists among scientists, some studies have shown an association between drinking cow's milk in early life and the development of insulin dependent diabetes. This association does not exist with soy milk.

Benefit 7: Soy milk is rich in isoflavones The presence of isoflavones is the most important and unique benefit of soy milk. Each cup of soy milk contains about 20 mg isoflavones (mainly genistein and daidzein). Cow’s milk does not contain isoflavones. Isoflavones have many health benefits including reduction of cholesterol, easing of menopause symptoms, prevention of osteoporosis and reduction of risk for certain cancers (prostate cancer and breast cancer). Incidents of these cancers are very low in countries with high intake of soy products, including soy milk. Isoflavones are also antioxidants which protect our cells and DNA against oxidation.

Top 10 foods for 2010 Part III

Simply put, it's the juice of an olive and it's filled a wide assortment of substances that offer a diverse range of health perks. Besides being a monounsaturated fat, EVOO is chock full of compounds with health-promoting effects. In fact, it's the same substances that provide olive oil's distinctive tastes and colours that are responsible for all kinds of weaponry against disease.

These small packages of goodness continue to impress - a decreased risk of diabetes, blood cholesterol lowering and anti-cancer action is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig in, but practice portion control. They're super as snacks to bridge the gap between meals.

Also known as legumes, dried peas and beans, pulses just don't get the respect they deserve. True, they're thought of as peasant food but these days, that's not such a bad thing. Put that together with the research that shows these foods can reduce blood cholesterol levels, help to regulate blood sugar and blood-pressure readings, and legumes are a clear winner as a meat substitute. The one drawback is flatulence - but if you consume these foods regularly, you can reap the benefits without the unwanted side effects.

While it's not a food and you likely can't get enough of it just eating food, vitamin D can't be left off the top 10 list for 2010. The sunshine vitamin, as it's also known, used to be considered mainly for its role in keeping bones healthy. But after years of people practicing safe sun habits and levels of vitamin D dropping, the potential costs to health of vitamin D shortages are now coming to light.
And they are staggering: Just the impact on immune-system functioning alone is astounding. Besides compromising our ability to fight illness, a deficit of vitamin D is linked to an epidemic of type 1 diabetes in children and other autoimmune diseases like MS. It's also being named as a culprit in the development of a number of cancers as well as heart disease. Experts are now saying that adults should take a supplement of 1,000 IU per day.

source by http://lifestyle.ca.msn.com